Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

51 Inspectors and inspectorates: reports and information sharing

(1) In section 87BA of the Children Act 1989 (quality assurance of inspectors under section 87A), for subsection (1) substitute—

“(1) The Secretary of State may require the Chief Inspector for England to prepare and send to the Secretary of State a report about—

(a) a particular inspector appointed under section 87A, or

(b) inspectors appointed under that section generally or of a particular description.”

(2) After that section insert—

“87BB Information sharing between the Chief Inspector for England and section 87A inspectors

(1) The Chief Inspector for England may disclose information to an inspector appointed under section 87A for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the exercise by the inspector of the function mentioned in section 87A(2)(b).

(2) A disclosure of information under this section made for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of children provided with accommodation by a school or college does not breach—

(a) any obligation of confidence owed by the Chief Inspector for England, or

(b) any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).”

(3) In section 107 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 (quality assurance of independent inspectorates), for subsection (1) substitute—

“(1) The Secretary of State may require the Chief Inspector to prepare and send to the Secretary of State a report about—

(a) a particular independent inspectorate, or

(b) independent inspectorates generally or of a particular description.”

(4) After that section insert—

“107A Information sharing between the Chief Inspector and independent inspectorates

(1) The Chief Inspector may disclose information to an independent inspectorate for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the inspection by the inspectorate of registered independent educational institutions.

(2) A disclosure of information under this section made for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of students at a registered independent educational institution does not breach—

(a) any obligation of confidence owed by the Chief Inspector, or

(b) any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).”